Perambulator for invalids



July 17, 1962 1.. R. BORLAND PERAMBULATOR FOR INVALIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 1, 1960 INVENTOR. Loren R. Borlahd Attorney y 1962 L. R.BORLAND 3,044,797

PERAMBULATOR FOR INVALIDS Filed April 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Loren R.Bar/and Attorney UnitedStates Patent 3,044,797 PERAMBULATOR FOR INVALIDSLoren R. Borland, San Raphael, Calif.

(2255 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, Calif.) Filed Apr. 1, 1960, Ser. No.19,217 7 Claims. (Cl. 280-87.02) t This inventionrelates toperambulators, and more particularly to a perambulator adapted forindividuals having immobilized legs, which may be in casts, but who havethe use of their trunks and arrns.

There are many occasions where an invalid particular- 1y a child ofadolescent age, is immobilized because of his legs being in a cast orperhaps paralyzed. In the case of a child, this offers a verydistressing situation because he is unable to move around; and becauseof the energy of a child, he constantly requires attention to take himfrom place to place. In this connection, the child is usually unable tooperate wheeled invalid carriages. A situation where the inventionhereof has found great applicability is one where a young child isimmobilized because of a congenitally dislocated hip. The legs are incasts but with the perambulator hereof, the child has been able topropel himself around and occupy himself with comfort and content.

Summarizing the invention, the perambulator comprises a frame structureincluding rear spaced apart frame members for supporting the legs of anindividual, and a front frame part for supporting his trunk with hisstomach facing downwardly. The front frame part is sufliciently narrowor in other words of such width as to enable the individual to propelhimself by pushing his hands against the surface, such as a floor orpavement, upon which the frame structure is supported on freely movablerollers or casters.

The rear frame members which support the individuals legs, are mountedin spaced apart relationship and are angularly related to accommodatethe legs in spread apart position. Also, adjustable means is provided toenable adjustment of the legs in a fixed selected comfortable position.In the space between the leg supporting frame members, an auxiliaryframe is provided for accommodating a comfort pan, such as a bed pan,removably mounted on the auxiliary frame to enable the invalid, in thecase of a child, to relieve himself when necessary.

From the preceding, it is seen that the invention has as its objects,among others, the provision of a perambulator of the character describedwhich is of simple and economical construction and which can be employedto meet the requirements indicated above. Other objects of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description. I Referring to thedrawings for a more detailed description,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the perambulator illustrating in phantomlines an invalid child supported thereon;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the perambulator;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken in a plane indicatedby the line 5-5 in FIG. 3, illustrating pivotal mounting of the legsupporting frame members enabling adjustment thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of a leg supportingframe member illustrating an adjustable yoke carried thereby forsupporting a leg in a comfortable position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken in a plane indicatedby the line 7-7 in FIG. 3, illustrating adjustable means for fixedlyconnecting the leg supporting frame members in a selected adjustedposition.

.IQQ

Patented July 17, 1962 The frame structure 2 of the perambulator isdesirably economically formed of metal tubing such as stainless steel oraluminum tubing. However, any other material can be employed. Itcomprises front frame part 3 which supports a soft cushion 4 upon whichthe invalids trunk may of leg supporting frame members 7 being turnedinwardly I transversely with respect to the main frame structure, andthe rear portions 11 being spaced apart and angularly related so as todiverge from the rear of-front frame part 3 to accommodate the legs ofthe individual in spread apart condition, which is necessary for comfortwhenthe individual is in casts.

Means is provided for adjusting the angular relationship between legsupporting members 7 for accommodating the individuals legs in aselected comfortable position, and for fixedly connecting the framemembers in such position. For this purpose, each of frame members 7 haspivotally connected thereto at 12 a connecting tube 13 which forms partof the rear frame. As can be seen from FIG. 7, one of tubes 13 is splitat 14 and is provided with a tapered threaded connection upon which anut 16 having a complementary tapered threaded connection is screwed.The other connecting tube 13 is telescoped at 17 within the threadedtubeso as to' be 'slidable therein. When nut 161's loosened, the angularrelationship between frame members 7 can'be adjusted to any desiredposition; and when nut 16 is tightened,'split tube 13 becomes fixedlyclamped in such selected adjusted position in the other connecting tube.

From the preceding, it is seen that the frame structure is generallyY-shaped with front frame part 3 of suflicient narrow width to enablethe individual to propel himself by pushing his hands along the sides ofcushion 4 against a supporting surface, such as a floor or pavement,upon which the frame structure may be supported. Free rolling casters 18are mounted adjacent the rear of frame mem bers 7, on hub 6 and on frontframe part 3 to enable easy propulsion of the perambulator.

Adjustable means is provided on each leg supporting frame member 7 forfurther making comfortable the position of the individuals legs toaccommodate the same. Such means comprises adjustable yokes 19, a pairof which is desirablymounted on each frame member 7. Each yoke ismounted on a split bracket 21 which can'be adjusted longitudinally of aframe member 7 by loosening fastening screws 22 which thus allow thebracket to be shifted; and when tightened, the yoke is held in 'alongitudinally adjusted fixed position.

Vertical adjustment of each yoke 19 is obtained by means of a screw 23which supports the upper end of the yoke, and which is threaded in asleeve 24 on a bracket 21. be loosened to provide for elevation of theyoke and also for holding the same in a suitable angularly adjustedposition. The adjustable yokes are desirable when it is considered thatmost individuals employing the perambulator have their legs in cast, andthe adjustments of the yokes provide not only for accommodation of thelegs but also for positioning them in proper position to conform toirregularities that may exist in the casts. However, flat relativelywide leg supporting members can be employed without adjustable legsupporting means but which support cushions for the individuals legs.

As was previously mentioned, the desired perambulator is particularlyadapted for comparatively young 7 children who may find it necessary torelieve themselves Upper and lower clamping nuts 26 can from time totime thus obviating the necessity of removing them from the perambulatorfor this purpose. Means is provided to support a bed pan comprising anauxiliary frame 27 positioned between frame members 7. Such auxiliaryframe has a base arm 28 rigid with the perambulator frame structure fromwhich extend laterally projecting arms 29 and a rear arm 31 havingcurved upwardly extending ends to conform to the configuration of a bedpan 32 (shown in phantom lines) which is removably supported on theauxiliary frame.

Desirably, front frame part 3 and cushion 4 are of such length as tosupport not only the torso of the individual when the individualsmidsection is approximately over hub part 6 but also his head in case hedesires to rest it on cushion 4. When supported on the perambulator,since the individual has full use of his hands he can propel himselfreadily from .place to place, and in the case of a child he can alsoplay with blocks or other toys because of having full use ,of his hands.Although the perambulator has been found particularly useful for aninvalid child, it is to be understood that it is not limited to such useasit can be employed for supporting any person whose legs areimmobilized but has use of his trunk and arms.

I claim:

1. A perambulator for an invalid having immobilized legs comprising agenerally Y-shaped frame structure in cluding a pair of spaced apartangularly related independent rear frame members diverging with respectto each other from adjacent their front ends for supporting the legs ofthe individual in spread apart position, means mounting said rear framemembers for adjustment relative to each other in said divergingrelationship and in substantially the same horizontal plane to vary theangle therebetween for accommodating the individuals legs in a selectedcomfortable position; a front frame part for supporting the individualstrunk, the space between said rear frame member adjacent said frontframe part being open; and roller supporting means on said front framepart and on said rear frame members,

2. A perambulator for an invalid having immobilized legs comprising agenerally Y-shaped frame structure including spaced apart independentrear frame members diverging with respect to each other from adjacenttheir front ends for supporting the legs of the individual in spreadapart position, a front frame part connected to said rear frame membersfor supporting his trunk, the space between said rear frame membersadjacent said front frame part being open, the front frame part being ofsuch width enabling the individual to propel himself by pushing hishands against a surface upon which the frame structure is supported, anauxiliary frame supported by said frame structure in the space betweensaid rear frame members adjacent the connection thereof with said frontframe part for removably supporting a bed pan, and roller supportingmeans on said front frame part and on said rear frame members.

3. A perambulator for an invalid having immobilized legs comprising agenerally Y-shaped frame structure including a pair of spaced apartindependent rear frame members diverging with respect to each other fromadjacent their front ends for supporting the legs of the individual inspread apart position, pivot means mounting said frame members adjacenttheir front ends for angular adjustment with respect to each other insaid diverging relationship and in substantially the same horizontalplane, adjustable means for fixedly connecting said frame memberstogether in a selected adjusted position,

a front frame part connected to the fronts of said rear frame membersfor supporting the individuals trunk, the

space between said rear frame members adjacent the front frame partbeing open, the front frame part being of such width enabling theindividual to propel himself by pushing his hands against a surface uponwhich the frame structure is supported, an auxiliary frame supported bysaid frame structure in the space between said rear frame membersadjacent the connection thereof with said front frame part for removablysupporting a bed pan, and roller supporting means on said front framepart and on said rear frame members.

4. The perambulator structure of claim 3 having an adjustable yoke oneach rear frame member upon which the individuals legs can rest.

5. The perambulator structure of claim 3 having a plurality ofvertically, angularly and longitudinally adjustable yokes on each rearframe member upon which the individuals legs can rest.

6. A perambulator for an invalid having immobilized legs comprising agenerally Y-shaped frame structure including a front frame part forsupporting the individuals trunk, and which is relatively narrow toenable the individual to propel himself by pushing his hands against asurface upon which the frame structure is supported, a pair of spacedapart independent rear frame members for supporting the legs of theindividual, means connecting the fronts of said rear frame members tothe rear of said front frame part for angular adjustment of said rearframe members relative to each other in substantially the same plane andin diverging relationship from the front frame part to support the legsof the individual in a selected comfortable spread apart position,adjustable means connected between said rear frame members adjacenttheir rear ends for fixedly securing said rear frame members in aselected adjusted position, the space between said rear frame membersadjacent said front frame part being open, an auxiliary frame supportedby said frame structure in the open space between said rear framemembers adjacent the connection thereof with said front frame part forremovably supporting a bed pan, and roller supporting means on saidfront frame part and on said rear frame members.

7. The perambulator of claim 6 in which said roller supporting means onsaid front frame part are completely underneath said front frame part soas not to interfere with propulsion of said perambulator by said hands.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.152,008 Lucas Dec. 7, 1948 716,735 Mitchell et a1. Dec. 23, 19021,039,709 Dierner Oct. 1, 1912 1,248,839 Fravel Dec. 4, 1917 1,549,879Jeidel Aug. 18, 1925 1,572,273 Elton Feb. 9, 1926 1,786,663 Leek Dec.30, 1930 2,366,972 Lawrence Jan. 9, 1945 2,484,494 Ferguson Oct. 11,1949 2,611,417 Henry Sept. 23, 1952 2,631,301 Hyland Mar. 17, 19532,706,120 Stratton Apr. 12, 1955 2,763,491 Thorwaldson Sept. 18, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 1,078,750 Germany July 16, 1955

